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East-West, PH-Aba Roads: RVHA Petitions NASS
The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday unanimously passed a motion to petition the National Assembly over the deplorable state of federal roads in the state, especially the East-West Road and Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
The lawmakers were of the view that these two major roads and the only link with other states were in decrepit situation to stagnate economic activities and unleash untold hardship on the people of the state.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi- OwajiIbani said it amounted to neglect and deliberate act of abandonment on the part of the Federal Government considering the status of Rivers State as a major economic contributor to the country’s revenue.
He said that the state has continuously suffered near break down of infrastructure.
Though the motion was initiated by the Majority Leader, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, other members, including those from the opposition joined in support, arguing that an immediate action be taken by presenting the matter before the National Assembly.
In his words, Amaewhule said, “people going to Andoni, Opobo and Ogoni can no longer go to their communities … It’s a pitiable situation, and it’s the same at Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. You cannot believe we are part of Nigeria”.
For the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 11, Hon. Michael Okechukwu Chinda, the Federal Government has displayed non-challance to the needs and challenges of Rivers people considering the poor state of the two roads.
Chinda noted, “The usual action of flying in Federal Government officials on visits to the state should be discouraged. Let them inculcate the habit of travelling by road, so that they can feel the pains of our people. This issue has become a recurring decimal, and the Federal Government needs to sit up as far as the East-West Road is concerned”.
Members of the opposition, who supported the motion include Hon. Innocent Barikor representing Gokana State Constituency, Victoria Nyeche representing Port Harcourt Constituency 1, and Josiah John Olu of Eleme Constituency.
Barikor pointed out that the deplorable state of the East-West Road had inflicted pains on the people which are both “tangible and intangible”, but pleaded that the state government should not abandon the plight of the citizens by ensuring that remedial works are sustained on the route.
Consequently, the state House of Assembly called on the Federal Government to refund monies spent by the Rivers State Government on repairing and maintaining of federal roads.
Member representing Eleme State Constituency, Hon. Josiah John Olu, who raised the matter on the floor of the House, as part of a motion seeking for repairs of the East-West Road, said so far, the state has expended N106billion since 2013.
The motion was upheld by the House as the Speaker concluded that, “Monies spent by the state government on federal roads should be re-imbursed.
Ibani stressed that, “the RSHA will seek justice, and we will continue to engage the Federal Government, and ensure that all relevant agencies live up to their responsibilities”.
The speaker observed that the poor state of federal roads in the state has become a nagging issue, insisting that, “If the Federal Government has done its responsibility, negligence wouldn’t have arisen. The word negligence is moderate to say the least of what our people have suffered over the years”.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.